why cant they work 9 till 5? surely that would reduce congestion as everyone else has already left for work. It wouldnt upset people because they are out and they would have the side roads to themselves all day!
Then they would have to work until 5.00 p.m.. They finish a lot earlier!
A friend of mine used to work for Lewisham bin/recycling and used to get up at 4am every morning to go to work and didn't finish until 4p.m most days.
I used to complain that the truck was always blocking the road to the school when I was trying to get my children to school and he said people complain whatever time they come around. They just vary the route when someone complains - which is most of the time.
Just count yourselves lucky that you don't live in Paris where they are only allowed to empty the bins in the middle of the night.
They collect the rubbish bags in Westminster at night because there is so much traffic during the day.